Physician s operating-table



(No Model.)

G. B. NICHOLS. PHYSIGIANS OPERATING TABLE.

No. 466,621. Patented Jan. 5, 18192.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRANT ll. NICHOLS, OF IVAPAKONETA, OIIIO.

PHYSICIANS OPERATING- -TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,621, dated January 5, 1892. Application filed January 13, 1891. Serial No. 377,596. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, GRANT B. NICHOLS, of \Vapakoneta, in the county of Auglaize and 7 State of Ohio, have invented a new and Im- The invention consists of a table-frame provided with a horizontal middle part and clownwardly-inclined end parts and a table-top made in three sections, of which the middle one is secured to the horizontal part of the frame, while the two other parts are hinged on the inclined ends of the frame.

The invention also consists in certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as

will. be described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective View of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of one of the he'el-stirrups.

The improved operating-table is provided with a rectangular frame A, mounted on suitable legs B, and formed in the middle of its top with a horizontal part 0, and provided with two downwardly-inclined end parts D and E, slanting downward from the middle part 0. The part D is somewhat longer than the part E, as is plainly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The table-top F is made of three sections G, H, and I, of which the middle section G is rigidly secured on the horizontal middle part 0 of the frame A, while the section II is hinged on the upper end of the inclined part D, and the section I is similarly hinged to the upper part of the inclined end E. The several table-top sections are adapted to be covered by cushions K, K, and K made of a material which is blood and water proof. Each of the hinged top sections II and I is provided with one, two, or more supports L and L, respectively, each of which is hinged to the under side of the respective section, and is provided at its inner edge with teeth L adapted to engage one'at a time the pin N, secured in the table-frame and located somewhat in front of the pivot of the support. When the section is in a closed position, asillustrated in Fig. 2, the respective support is inclined, as illustrated in the said figure; but when the section is swung upward the support is raised likewise and its teeth pass over the pin N to finally engage the said pin with one of the teeth when the respective section is in the desired position. In order to insure the engagement of the teeth L with the pin N, the lower end of each support is preferably provided with a pawl L as is plainly illustrated in the drawings. The pivot of each support is provided with a downwardly-extending arm 0, pivotally connected with a handle P, extending to the end of the section, so as to be within convenient reach of the operator, the said handle being held in a suitable guideway Q, arranged on the under side of the respective section H or I. This handle P serves to disengage the supports L or L when the operator desires to lower the respective section, inwhich case the operator pulls on the handles, so as to disengage the respective teeth L from the pin N. In order to deaden the noise, the pin N is preferably covered with rubber or other suitable material.

In the section I are secured in suitable recesses the metallic plates R and R, each provided with a series of openings or sockets R adapted to be engaged one at a time by the shank S of a stirrup S, having the usual ring S adapted to be engaged by the heel of the patient to be operated on. On the section I can also be placed a waste-pan T, preferably made of triangular shape, as is plainly illustrated in Fig. 1, the lower or apex part being provided with a discharge-spout T, passing through a suitable opening in the section I to discharge waste matter into a receptacle placed in the end E of the frame A. It is understood that the stirrups S, as well as the waste-pan T, are only placed in position in case the cushion K is removed. The

stirrups, as well as the waste-pan, are used mostly in gynecological work. In this class of practice it is of course necessary to spread apart the patients lower limbs, and not only so, but to bend the knees to a greater or less extent, which is accomplished by properly adjusting either or both of the stirrups, and I in certain instances a further upward adj ustment of the lower limbs, after they have been set at the proper angle by the stirrups, may be effected by raising the section I as a whole. It will also be noticed that the shanks S are round, so that thestirrups are free to turn when the patients heels rest therein, and thus permit of a perfectly natural and unstrained position. As there is no foot-board extending across the section I, but two widely-separated stirrups S, the surgeon has uninterrupted view of and access to the part to be examined, as he sits at the foot of the table with his arms resting on the lower end of the section I and his hands holding the speculum, needle, or knife, 850., as occasion may require.

In the middle part of the frame A is arranged transverselya drawer U for conveniently storing batteries, sponges, cloths, 850., used in performing operations.

It will be seen that the top sections H and I can be conveniently raised in any desired position, so as to give the patient such a position as to permit the operator to conveniently perform the operation. If desired, the two sections may be extended horizontally in line with the top section G, or they may be more or less inclined with relation to the middle or top section G, as desired. It will further be seen that when the operator takes hold of the free end of either of the table-top sections H or I and swings the same upward to the desired position the respective teeth of 0 the supports L or L automatically engage the pins N, so as to hold the respective section in the proper position. When the operator desires to lower the section, he simply pulls on the handle E, as previously described, to disengage the respective teeth from the pin N to permit of lowering the section. It will further be seen that the operating-table has no complicated devices for raising or lowering the top sections, nor has it any projecting parts which may be accidentally struck by the operator while moving around the table. It will further be seen that the patient on thetable is always under the direct control of the operators hands when being raised or lowered. The patients head or feet, or either or both, can be raised or lowered by the operator at a moments notice, thus preventing many accidents and even death.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a physicians operating-table, the combination, with the stationary horizontal central section and the vertically adjustable head and foot sections, of a waste-pan at the center of the hinged edge of the foot-section, and longitudinally-ad j ustable foot-rests at opposite sides of the pan, substantially as set forth.

2. In a physicians operatin g-table, the combination, with the horizontal central section and the vertically-adjustable head and foot sections, of a waste-pan at the center of'the hinged edge of the foot-section, and foot-rests mounted on the foot-section at opposite sides of the waste-pan, substantially as set forth.

GRANT B. NICHOLS.

Witnesses:

RoBr. B. ANDERSON, BENJ. LINZEE. 

